APLS Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. - Fundamental Analysis
BEARISH
Sign in to save
Save this symbol to a watchlist or track a position.
APLS Stock | Fundamental Analysis & Investment Insights
NASDAQ
Healthcare
Biotechnology
Current Price
Live
$20.07
Analyst Target
$33.74
+68.1%
Upside
52W High
$30.48
52W Low
$16.1
At a glance
Key valuation, profitability, growth, and risk metrics.
Updated Mar 07, 2026
Market cap
$2.57B
P/E
111.5
ROE
7.5%
Profit margin
2.2%
Debt/Equity
1.28
Dividend yield
N/A
AI Analysis
Powered by advanced machine learning algorithms
Confidence Score
85%
Analysis Accuracy
APLS exhibits weak financial health per the Piotroski F-Score of 4/9, indicating a fragile foundation despite modest stability. The absence of an Altman Z-Score raises concern about bankruptcy risk, especially given a high debt/equity ratio of 1.28 and negative operating margins. While the Graham Number ($3.44) and intrinsic value ($1.26) suggest deep undervaluation, the current price of $20.07 reflects a significant premium, likely driven by speculative growth expectations. The company shows declining revenue (-5.9% YoY), deteriorating earnings (most recent Q/Q EPS growth: -128.1%), and a bearish insider sentiment with $1.51M in sales over six months. Analysts recommend 'buy' with a target of $33.74, but this optimism appears disconnected from deteriorating fundamentals.
Key Strengths
Gross margin of 60.34% indicates strong product-level pricing power
High average earnings surprise of 29.25% over the last four quarters suggests potential for upside in future reporting
Current ratio of 3.14 and quick ratio of 2.59 reflect strong short-term liquidity
Positive ROE (7.48%) and ROA (3.53%) indicate some return efficiency despite losses
Analyst consensus remains 'buy' with a high target price of $33.74, signaling market optimism
Key Risks
Piotroski F-Score of 4/9 signals weak financial health and declining operational efficiency
Negative operating margin (-25.58%) and declining revenue (-5.9% YoY) indicate core business deterioration
Insider selling totaling $1.51M in six months with no buys reflects bearish sentiment from within the company
Forward P/E of -82.59 and negative earnings growth (-62.1% YoY) suggest no near-term profitability
No Altman Z-Score available with high debt/equity (1.28) and negative operating cash flow raise solvency concerns
AI Fair Value Estimate
Based on comprehensive analysis
$3.44
-82.9% below current price
Performance Snowflake
Multi-dimensional analysis across 5 key categories
Overall
30
Weak
35
28
55
30
0
AI Verdict
weak
Key drivers: Negative revenue and earnings growth, Weak Piotroski F-Score, Bearish insider activity, High valuation relative to fundamentals, Absence of Altman Z-Score
Confidence
88%
Value
35/100
Ref P/E, PEG, Graham Number
Positives
- Graham Number of $3.44 suggests deep undervaluation
- Intrinsic value of $1.26 provides a theoretical floor
Watchpoints
- Current price of $20.07 is 580% above Graham Number
- P/E of 111.50 and forward P/E of -82.59 indicate extreme valuation or unprofitability
- Price/Sales of 2.56 is elevated for a loss-making biotech
Future
28/100
Ref Growth rates
Positives
- Analyst target price of $33.74 implies strong growth expectations
- Recent earnings surprises have been positive in some quarters
Watchpoints
- Revenue growth is declining (-5.9% YoY)
- Earnings growth is negative (-62.1% YoY)
- Q/Q EPS growth is -128.1%, indicating worsening profitability
Past
55/100
Ref Historical trends
Positives
- Historical earnings surprises have been positive in several quarters (e.g., +77.3%, +191.0%)
- Some quarters show strong beat rates (e.g., 2/4 in last 4)
Watchpoints
- Persistent losses over multiple quarters
- Negative operating margin (-25.58%) and declining ROE trend
- 5-year stock performance down 56.9%, indicating long-term underperformance
Health
30/100
Ref Altman Z-Score, Piotroski F-Score
Positives
- Current ratio (3.14) and quick ratio (2.59) indicate strong liquidity
- Positive ROE (7.48%) and ROA (3.53%) suggest some capital efficiency
Watchpoints
- Piotroski F-Score of 4/9 indicates weak financial health
- No Altman Z-Score available; debt/equity of 1.28 is elevated for a biotech
- Negative operating margin and negative free cash flow
Dividend
0/100
Ref Yield, Payout
Positives
No standout positives identified.
Watchpoints
- No dividend paid
- Payout ratio of 0.00%
- Dividend yield not applicable
Stock Price & Analyst Targets
Real-time price movements and analyst price targets
Current Price
$20.07
Analyst Target
$33.74
Upside/Downside
+68.1%
Multi-Horizon Performance vs Peers
Price momentum across 5Y → 1W horizons for APLS and closest competitors.
Updated 2026-03-06
| Company | 5Y | 3Y | 1Y | 6M | 1M | 1W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
APLS
Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Primary
|
-56.9% | -68.7% | -20.7% | -28.6% | -13.3% | -4.2% |
|
ATEC
Alphatec Holdings, Inc.
Peer
|
+4.7% | +20.4% | +33.9% | +44.4% | -24.8% | -11.9% |
|
AAPG
Ascentage Pharma Group Internat
Peer
|
+40.6% | +40.6% | +31.1% | -39.6% | -0.7% | +5.6% |
|
BHC
Bausch Health Companies Inc.
Peer
|
-78.1% | -29.4% | -24.3% | -12.7% | -17.7% | -15.3% |
|
ACHC
Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc.
Peer
|
-61.4% | -66.0% | -16.5% | +8.2% | +51.5% | -8.2% |
Positive values indicate cumulative gains over the specified period. Comparables pulled from the same sector to highlight whether momentum is stock-specific or industry-wide.
Historical Performance Trends
Long-term financial metrics and growth patterns
Revenue & Net Income
Profit & Operating Margins
Return on Equity (ROE)
Quarterly Revenue Growth
Historical data shows last 12 quarters (3 years)
Valuation Metrics
Key valuation ratios and pricing indicators
P/E Ratio
111.5
Forward P/E
-82.59
PEG Ratio
N/A
P/B Ratio
6.87
P/S Ratio
2.56
EV/Revenue
2.56
EV/EBITDA
45.14
Market Cap
$2.57B
Profitability
Profit margins and return metrics
Profit Margin
2.23%
Operating Margin
-25.58%
Gross Margin
60.34%
ROE
7.48%
ROA
3.53%
Growth
Revenue and earnings growth rates
Revenue Growth
-5.9%
Earnings Growth
N/A
Q/Q Revenue Growth
N/A
Q/Q Earnings Growth
N/A
Financial Health
Balance sheet strength and liquidity metrics
Debt/Equity
1.28
Moderate
Current Ratio
3.14
Strong
Quick Ratio
2.59
Excellent
Cash/Share
$3.66
Quarterly Earnings History
EPS performance vs analyst estimates
2026-05-07
$N/A
2026-02-24
$-0.47
-19.4% surprise
2025-10-30
$1.67
+77.3% surprise
2025-07-31
$-0.33
+29.8% surprise
Healthcare Sector Comparison
Comparing APLS against 147 companies in the Healthcare sector
(9 bullish, 56 neutral, 82 bearish)
P/E Ratio
111.5
This Stock
vs
164.76
Sector Avg
-32.3%
(Discount)
Return on Equity (ROE)
7.48%
This Stock
vs
-53.48%
Sector Avg
-114.0%
(Below Avg)
Profit Margin
2.23%
This Stock
vs
-20.64%
Sector Avg
-110.8%
(Weaker)
Debt to Equity
1.28
This Stock
vs
6.19
Sector Avg
-79.3%
(Less Debt)
Revenue Growth
-5.9%
This Stock
vs
137.13%
Sector Avg
-104.3%
(Slower)
Current Ratio
3.14
This Stock
vs
3.37
Sector Avg
-7.1%
(Weaker)
Similar Companies
Peer comparison within the same industry
| Company | AI Rating | Market Cap | P/E | ROE | Profit Margin | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
APLS
Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
|
BEARISH | $2.57B | 111.5 | 7.5% | 2.2% | $20.07 | |
|
ATEC
Alphatec Holdings, Inc.
|
BEARISH | $2.32B | - | -540.4% | -21.3% | $15.62 | |
|
AAPG
Ascentage Pharma Group Internat
|
BEARISH | $2.29B | - | -159.6% | -296.8% | $24.43 | |
|
BHC
Bausch Health Companies Inc.
|
BEARISH | $2.19B | 6.79 | 563.2% | 3.6% | $5.91 | |
|
ACHC
Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc.
|
BEARISH | $2.17B | - | -41.0% | -33.3% | $23.52 |
Recent Insider Trading
Insider buy and sell transactions from the last 6 months
| Date | Insider | Position | Transaction | Shares | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-11 | DELONG MARK JEFFREY | Officer | Sale | 368 | $8,153 |
| 2026-02-03 | FRANCOIS CEDRIC | Chief Executive Officer | Option Exercise | 8,840 | $33,238 |
| 2026-01-28 | SULLIVAN TIMOTHY EUGENE | Chief Financial Officer | Stock Award | 58,140 | - |
| 2026-01-28 | FRANCOIS CEDRIC | Chief Executive Officer | Stock Award | 195,952 | - |
| 2026-01-28 | LESLIE MELTZER | Officer | Stock Award | 45,220 | - |
| 2026-01-28 | WATSON DAVID OSBORNE | General Counsel | Stock Award | 55,986 | - |
| 2026-01-28 | DESCHATELETS PASCAL | Officer | Stock Award | 25,840 | - |
| 2026-01-28 | NICHOLSON NUR | Chief Technology Officer | Stock Award | 45,220 | - |
| 2026-01-28 | CHOPAS JAMES GEORGE | Officer | Stock Award | 16,150 | - |
| 2026-01-28 | DELONG MARK JEFFREY | Officer | Stock Award | 36,606 | - |
| 2026-01-28 | BOUCHER KELLEY | Officer | Stock Award | 30,146 | - |
| 2026-01-22 | NICHOLSON NUR | Chief Technology Officer | Sale | 7,725 | $168,138 |
| 2026-01-22 | CHOPAS JAMES GEORGE | Officer | Sale | 2,064 | $44,924 |
| 2026-01-22 | DELONG MARK JEFFREY | Officer | Sale | 3,371 | $73,371 |
| 2026-01-22 | BAUMAL CAROLINE | Officer | Sale | 2,797 | $60,878 |
Insider transactions can signal confidence or concerns about company prospects
Past News Coverage
Recent headlines mentioning APLS from our newsroom.
Newest → oldest
No matching news yet.